Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Sanford H. Calhoun High School Alumni Association will honor 11 alumni and one retired staff member as part of its Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The induction ceremony is set for Friday, May 8, at the Coral House, where the Calhoun community will gather to celebrate the honorees’ achievements.
“These individuals reflect the very best of Calhoun — lives of service, excellence, courage, and leadership that continue to inspire our students, alumni, and community,” said Denise Murphy McGraw ’89, chairwoman of the Hall of Fame Committee.
The Calhoun Alumni Association Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and faculty whose achievements bring distinction to the school and embody its values. Established decades ago, the Hall of Fame celebrates contributions in academics, athletics, public service, and professional life, highlighting the lasting impact of Calhoun graduates and staff.
The Class of 2026 includes distinguished figures such as Don Erickson ’66, a Vietnam veteran and helicopter pilot awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with “V” device, and the Air Medal with 21 Oak Leaf Clusters; Steve Grilli ’67, the only Calhoun graduate to play six seasons in Major League Baseball who later became a scout, broadcaster, and mentor; and Bob McIntyre ’73, an extraordinary special education teacher, coach, and mentor. Other honorees include Kevin Conroy ’75, an All-American lacrosse player and Town of Hempstead comptroller; Ross W. Turrini ’81, a senior executive and chief gas engineer at National Grid; Scott Berns ’83, a pediatric trauma director and White House Fellow; and Brian McCauley ’85, a volunteer firefighter who responded at ground zero on Sept. 11 and later died from 9/11-related cancer.
Dana Milbank ’86, a Washington Post columnist, MSNBC and CNN contributor, and New York Times bestselling author, and Dina Gentile ’88, a trailblazer in sports management, education, and coaching, will also be honored. The class further includes Brian Sweeney ’89, a Merrick and FDNY firefighter killed during the Sept. 11 attacks, and Fred Harrison, a retired faculty member, union leader, and community environmental activist.
Harrison, who taught at Calhoun for more than 35 years before retiring in 2010, said he was surprised when he first learned he had been selected.
“I was shoveling snow during the snowstorm, and my neighbor from across the street…congratulated me,” he recalled. “I looked at her and I didn’t know what she was talking about, and then she explained to me, so that’s how I learned about it.”
Harrison said his decades at Calhoun gave him the opportunity to engage students on a variety of issues, including the environment, war and peace, and poverty.
“It gave me an opportunity to be able to speak on a bunch of different issues,” he said. “I had many clubs over the years at Calhoun…so there was a good group of students to work with, and the administration was generally cooperative in doing that kind of work and supportive. So, it was a good thing.”
He also emphasized the school’s lasting influence on the community.
“In fact, my son, who went to Calhoun, is now a teacher at Mepham High School, and his daughters will go to Calhoun High School. That sort of tells you that there’s a lot of confidence in this place, you know, and a lot of good feeling about it,” Harrison said.
“These honorees showcase the powerful impact Calhoun has had on their professions and communities,” said Calhoun Interim Principal Michael Hughes.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the induction gala, visit the Calhoun Alumni Association website at CalhounAlumni.com.
